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The tennis world is currently seeing a mix of flourishing successes and wavering performances from its next-generation stars. Stefanos Tsitsipas and Holger Rune, two marquee names who've shown promising potential in recent years, have faced a relatively turbulent 2023 season.
Starting the year with a bang, Tsitsipas reached the Grand Slam final at the Australian Open, signaling his intent. However, his recent form has been a far cry from his early-season exploits. Since the commencement of the North American hardcourt season, he's struggled to string together consistent wins.
This pattern has raised eyebrows and caught the attention of prominent tennis analysts.
Wertheim Highlights Tsitsipas' Woes
Sports journalist Jon Wertheim, in his recent article for Sports Illustrated, drew attention to Tsitsipas' concerning form.
Responding to queries about the Greek's performance, Wertheim remarked that while Rune has hit a temporary plateau after his stellar 2022 breakthrough, it's Tsitsipas whose trajectory is genuinely worrisome. Emphasizing Rune's still commendable gameplay despite the "wall" he's hit, Wertheim stated, "There's only so much elite tennis even top players can consistently produce.
Rune is certainly feeling the burn. However, Tsitsipas' decline is far more alarming." Recalling Rune's achievements, it's noteworthy that the Danish star clinched his first Masters 1000 title in Paris last year, stunning tennis maestro Novak Djokovic in the final.
This victory solidified his position as one of tennis's rising sensations. However, recent ATP world ranking updates have revealed that both Rune and Tsitsipas have slipped, reflecting their on-court struggles. As of Monday, October 16, Rune, after a disappointing first-round exit at the Stockholm Open, has fallen from No.
5 to No. 6, losing 35 ranking points. His tally now stands at 4,605 points, trailing behind Andrey Rublev's 4,765. Conversely, Tsitsipas faced a more significant dip, losing 255 points, relegating him to the No. 7 spot with 4,360 points.
Despite the setback, all eyes are on him at the European Open, where he's set to face Botic van de Zandschlup in a match that could potentially reignite his season.